Harry York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harry York |
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| Born | April 16, 1974 Ponoka, Alberta, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | St. Louis Blues New York Rangers Pittsburgh Penguins Vancouver Canucks |
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| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 1995–2000 | ||
Harold Cameron York, born on April 16, 1974, is a former professional ice hockey player from Canada. He played as a centre, which is a key attacking position in hockey. Harold spent several seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), which is the top ice hockey league in North America. He was known for his strong play and being one of the few First Nations players in the NHL during his time, as he is of Cree descent.
Harold York's Hockey Journey
Harold York grew up in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. He showed great talent in junior hockey. In the 1994–95 season, playing for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He was also the league's top scorer that year. Even with these amazing achievements, no NHL team chose him in the draft. This means he was undrafted.
After junior hockey, York joined the Nashville Knights in the ECHL league. In the 1995–96 season, he had a fantastic year, scoring 83 points. This performance finally caught the attention of scouts from the NHL. The St. Louis Blues signed him near the end of that season. He then played for their farm team, the Worcester IceCats, where he scored 8 goals in just 13 games.
In the 1996–97 season, York made the St. Louis Blues NHL team. He was a complete surprise to everyone! He started the season incredibly well, becoming one of the top rookie scorers in the NHL. At one point, he scored goals in five games in a row. He was even named the NHL's Rookie of the Month in November. He played as the Blues' second-line centre for most of the season. He finished his rookie year with a solid 14 goals and 32 points.
York returned to the Blues for the 1997–98 season, but it was a bit tougher for him to score points. After playing 58 games, he was traded to the New York Rangers. His time in New York was short. He was traded again early in the 1998–99 season to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After only two games with the Penguins, he was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks.
In Vancouver, York was reunited with coach Mike Keenan, who had coached him in St. Louis. This reunion helped York get back on track. He scored 7 goals and 16 points in 49 games. He became known as a strong defensive player and a good penalty killer for the Canucks.
In the 1999–2000 season, York played 54 games for the Canucks, scoring 4 goals and 17 points. However, his role on the team became smaller under a new coach. He also faced some health challenges. Because of this, the team released him at the end of the season. This effectively ended his NHL career.
Harold York finished his NHL career having played 244 games. He scored 29 goals and had 46 assists, for a total of 75 points. He also had 99 penalty minutes.
Awards and Cool Achievements
- Alberta Junior Hockey League Most Valuable Player (1994–95)
- Alberta Junior Hockey League Leading Scorer (1994–95)
- NHL Rookie of the Month (November, 1996)
